As a pet owner, you may be wondering if CBD is right for your pet. CBD has become increasingly popular among humans for its potential health benefits, but what about pets? Read on to learn more about CBD and whether it could be beneficial for your pet.
The cannabis plant is a powerful source of health for humans, but it also provides relief from pain in pets. Despite many anecdotal reports about CBD’s potential benefits on human patients with osteoarthritis or epilepsy, studies are now underway to look at how this cannabinoid could treat these conditions by either calming anxious animals or helping them fight off seizures. There are many CBD oils today made specifically made for our pets. It is important to know enough information and use these products correctly.
Cannabinoids are substances, including CBD and THC, which mimic endocannabinoid chemicals naturally produced in all vertebrates. Receptors for these cannabinoids can be found throughout our body, acting as master regulators that signal other systems when to speed up or slow down, so they may return to homeostasis. Cannabis plants affect these same receptors differently. For example, THC causes a high while others, such as cannabidiol (CBD) do not. It’s important to know that THC can cause toxicity and even death in pets when given at prescribed human dosages.
Unlike THC, the worst that CBD has been documented to do is just make your dog’s diarrhea worse after several weeks of use. However, there are some concerns with this drug because it may affect one’s liver enzyme values (which helps metabolize most drugs) as well block cytochrome P450–a key chemical responsible for getting rid of medications quickly so they’re not harmful or addictive later on down the line. It’s important to note that CBD should not be given with steroids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and may also alter dosages for seizure meds and always check with your veterinarian prior to giving CBD when giving other medications as well. We recommend not giving CBD within 1 week of a surgical procedure as some patients may experience excessive bleeding. Additionally, we recommend with regular use of CBD to have routinely bloodwork performed on a regular basis.
While research with dogs is still scarce, there are over 23 thousand published studies looking at CBD’s effect on laboratory animals and humans. For pain relief especially in cases of arthritis or cancer, this can be really beneficial. While the potential to help is very real and evolving, the purity and contents are not regulated since it’s a popular and quick cash grab.
CBD oil is becoming a more popular treatment for pets, and there’s a good reason for that. CBD has been shown to have many potential benefits for animals, from reducing inflammation to helping with anxiety and seizures. Never buy CBD from a gas station or a grocery store and never give it to your pet if it smells like pot. If you’re curious about whether CBD might be right for your pet, contact us to learn more. We can help you decide if CBD is the right treatment option for your pet and answer any other questions you may have about this growing trend in pet care.